Stephanie Dobbs Brown

The Milltown Partners team put together their latest analysis of investor communications trends, diving deep into this year's Midas List data and exploring how investors are communicating - channels, content, media strategy and more. Get the summary here - https://lnkd.in/eh9KeXe5

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In our recent "Meet the Media" session at Brands2Life, we were joined by Bloomberg’s Dave Lee, a respected technology columnist formerly with the BBC News and Financial Times. Dave discussed the challenges of #tech #journalism, emphasizing the need to simplify complex information without diluting the narrative, crucial for engaging a broad audience. One of the standout points of discussion, especially bearing in mind the recent explosion of #AI, was the evolving role of 'expertise' in the media, and how the rush to label professionals as 'experts' can obscure true #thoughtleadership. We also delved into the ethical and societal effects of technological advancements, discussing how journalists shape public understanding and discourse, a critical responsibility given the profound influence of technology on society. For more insights from this session and to understand how these discussions influence our approach to PR and media relations, check out my latest blog post: https://bit.ly/4a4QYJc. #MediaRelations #TechPR #EthicalTech #TechnologyPR

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Great insights from Jack Murphy on Waystar's S-1 filing! As the IPO market heats up with Waystar following #Rurik, #Reddit, and #AsteraLabs, it's essential for comms teams to understand the strategic elements in these filings. Check out how Waystar uses various levers like customer testimonials, AI integration, and its diverse client base to help build investor confidence. A must-read for anyone navigating the path to public markets. If you have an IPO on the horizon, check out our IPO Playbook: https://lnkd.in/gc-VvN5h ....or get in touch with the Brands2Life team. #IPO #CommsStrategy #Waystar #AI #CustomerSuccess #InvestorRelations

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As CMOs, we're constantly navigating the dynamic landscape of marketing. The latest Nielsen 2024 Annual Marketing Report underscores the necessity of a balanced media mix and provides us with pivotal insights for our strategies moving forward. Below are my 5 key takeaways – let's discuss! ⬇️ 🌟 In a promising shift, 72% of #marketers anticipate larger ad budgets this year, a significant rise from 64% last year – and a testament to our industry's resilience and growth potential. 💻 Globally, marketers are planning to allocate over 63% of their ad budgets to digital channels in 2024, including social media, search, online video, and digital display. The effectiveness of these channels is undeniable – here’s to you, PAN Team Marketing. 📈 Investment in brand-building marketing is essential for brands to drive revenue growth and achieve holistic success. While some media buying plans may not support full-funnel ROI, we as marketers need to be conscious of the disconnect between our objectives and KPIs and adapt. 🔑 As a true fan of the “awareness phase” it’s great to see Nielsen report on upper-funnel marketing, and how it’s critical for long-term and full-funnel #ROI. Balancing our strategies by including both brand building and performance marketing will be key. 💡 We should always ensure our measurement tactics are complete and aligned with our strategic goals. This will enhance our overall effectiveness – there is always room for improvement! ➡️ TL;DR: Advertising budgets are growing, and with that growth comes increased opportunity to stand out across your media channels. That's why a multi-channel media approach that includes measurement across the full marketing funnel is the goal for so many. Any recent insights that have caused you to rethink upcoming or current strategies? I'd love to hear! ⬇️ 

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This The Wall Street Journal article shares a variety of challenges faced by influencers, but is the root problem simply that there are too many of them today? There was a time not long ago when it was easy to identify the most powerful influencers--they were unique, shared compelling content, had large passionate followings, and weren't exclusively hired guns. Now, Google the top influencers in any industry/market and you get an endless list where it's hard differentiate one from another. I believe in the value of influencers, both from an organic and paid perspective, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to build relationships with right ones in such an oversaturated field of choices. Sure, you can take a shotgun approach and just target a bunch of influencers, but that can take lots of time and money with no assurance of success. Or you can take the tried-and true-approach used for years to identify the right CSR partners -- create a clear set of criteria (agree upon by appropriate internal stakeholder) that align with your business goals, brand position and/or company mission. In my experience, that criteria roadmap will help land mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with the right influencers more often than not. #influencers #content #socialmedia #branding #partners

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Nerd alert 🤓 Has your PR team ever told you that your press release received a bazillion impressions and an ad equivalent of a gazillion dollars? Check out my take on (actually) measuring the success of your earned media programs. How are you defining PR wins?

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If the third-party cookie ever dies, people will have to adjust. In today's video I explain what it's all about, how some people are responding, and why you should invest in a CDP and start collecting your own first-party data.

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Bravery + Business = How brands and agencies are stepping into the future. That’s one of the standout themes from last week’s AdForum Summit. Here’s how it's being put into practice:   ✅ Creative Bravery in Action Quality Experience distinguished between “beautiful creative” and “beautiful advertising” that connects to the brand and drives real business outcomes. Uncommon Creative Studio's approach, “Creating Acts not Ads,” captures this idea perfectly. ✅ Bold Doesn’t Need to Be Risky Quality Experience also emphasized that so-called “brave” creative isn't actually risky if it's well-researched and insights-driven: “It’s not big audacious work. It’s work that captures your audience in a way that’s relevant in 2024.” Qulture noted that everyone’s feed is now tailor-made to them, so the only way brands can reach their audiences is by aligning with their interests and affinities. ✅ Creative That Sparks Conversation As [Ai]magination noted, with AI enabling brands to produce 50x more content, the big idea and strong storytelling become crucial for standing out. Ogilvy talked about “earned-first creative” and other firms touched on this same point. It's not just about garnering impressions; it's about driving meaningful conversations that translate into business success. (See: Ogilvy PR's Michael Cera for CeraVe campaign leading up to and capitalizing on the brand's first Super Bowl spot). ✅ Harnessing Tech for Humanity Put aside for a moment everything you’ve heard about how AI is going to take over humanity. Marketers are already using tech for good. Take, for example, Kiki, a virtual human who interprets emergency broadcasts for natural disasters in Japan and makes important news available to Japanese Sign Language speakers. It doesn't stop there...the platform is available for licensing to other organizations. What are your thoughts on balancing creative bravery with business outcomes? How are you navigating this intersection in your work?

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I love a hot take on what many consider a broken pitch process, and even better that this one includes tangible tips. My reactions: 1️⃣ “Make pitches shorter.” No question that prolonged searches have gotten out of hand. But IMO, the suggested 2-3 weeks isn’t enough time to get to know each other and for clients to avoid making a snap decision. Anyone can be on their best behavior for 2 weeks. 2️⃣ “Act like you’re already working together.” This one fix alone - providing more access to the clients and opportunities to build chemistry - will address most of the common problems with reviews. That said, agencies need to avoid the temptation to turn each touch point into a pitch. 3️⃣ “Treat each other like partners, not prospects.” Nobody likes agency reviews. Except search consultants like myself—what can I say, we’re a unique breed. But the process is a whole lot better if both sides approach it with the same qualities they expect from their client-agency partnerships: Transparency. Empathy. Respect. TLDR: My favorite part of this piece is that it acknowledges that agencies have a role in fixing what’s broken. As I posted just last week: “While I agree that many agency searches leave lots of room for improvement, at least part of the onus lies with the agencies.”

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With today's news that Waystar is aiming to raise up to $1B through its IPO, we took a look at what its S-1 can tell us from a communications perspective. Read the takeaways here: https://lnkd.in/ekEpVic2

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Jounce Media's newly published State of the Open Internet Report explains the industry’s chronic bidstream congestion issue and how to address it. This latest research highlights the trend toward consolidation we are seeing on the supply side and is a must-read.

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Welcome to the life of today’s CMO. No longer confined to managing a brand and its messaging, the post’s responsibilities have swelled to include a host of disciplines. And some CMOs have mastered new corporate responsibilities well enough to step up to the CEO’s office. Today’s multiskilled marketers are also taking board seats at other companies—experiences that can help them evolve further as CMOs. What’s more, they can represent the customer perspective. https://lnkd.in/edTgpQzf

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From early adoption to ethical applications, three of WE’s leaders - Nitin Mantri, Laura Gillen and Tiffany Cook – unpack our latest #WEBrandsinMotion research, on how brands must bridge the AI expectation gap, with PRWeek.

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In these challenging times we see tension between brands wanting to stand for something and the finding in our new Trust report that 60% of our respondents across 14 countries surveyed say they are buying,choosing or avoiding brands based on their politics. How to navigate this lightening rod moment ? Our special Trust report on Brand and Politics out today outlines the challenges and opportunities given this uptick of political driven buying. Our preview sessions with clients in London and NYC so far show how complex this issue is and also how useful this data has been for them. And here it is!! https://lnkd.in/eJ9V3iza

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A new Nielsen report sheds light on the fastest-growing consumer demographic in the U.S. According to Jackie Liu of The Pollack Group, Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander audiences are a diverse powerhouse influencing culture and commerce. The report reinforces that understanding AANHPI communities requires nuanced insights beyond surface-level generalizations through data-backed trends and unique media habits. Jackie shares top takeaways on communicating authentically to diverse Asian audiences. Discover proven strategies for success by exploring the full report at the link below. 👇

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Change is constant, and the attitudes and buying habits of #Black Americans continue to change. Do you know how to fuel brand growth with the segment? Here are big picture insights to help guide your marketing strategy: 1.) Black Americans are increasingly proud of their cultural heritage. Higher celebration rate of cultural holidays and desire for creative language expression showcase their unapologetic embrace of their identity. 2.) The segment’s realness and faith set the stage for true vulnerability. Black Americans’ deep understanding of who they are allows vulnerability to flourish. Risk-taking is an expression of that vulnerability and a form of self-care. Our latest study, now including three-year trended data, explores key areas of our consumer fundamentals research to help your brand fuel growth with Black consumers. Contact us to learn how you can unlock access to these insights and more. https://lnkd.in/eEpiYZ4h #marketing #mrx #diversity #inclusion #diversityandinclusion #marketresearch #marketingandadvertising #consumerinsights

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🌟 Huge thanks to Dan Gallagher, WSJ Heard on the Street, for joining our latest 'Meet the Media' session with Brands2Life! 🌟 It was great to have Dan share his thoughts on the evolving #AI industry and the future of #streaming, exploring topics such as AI's gradual real-world impact and media consumption trends. Thanks again Dan for a fantastic session! #AI #Media #Technology #WSJ #Investment #Streaming #MeetTheMedia

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In a highly divisive US election year and with AI being used to generate mis- and disinformation at an unprecedented scale, it's critical that nonpolitical advertisers dial up their placement control to protect brand safety. Check out our latest blog on navigating this environment 👇 #DigitalAdvertising #Adtech

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